Of Innocence and Autonomy: Children, Sex and Human Rights

This anthology of essays focuses on the human rights of children in the area of sexuality. Looking at the theoretical aspects, essays examine the history and construction of concepts of childhood and child sexuality, while other essays take an interdisciplinary approach, examining anthropological, sociological, psychological and economic perspectives on law and childhood sexuality. Specific problems that arise in litigation and judicial practice are looked at in more detail, and in some cases, comparative and international approaches are taken to the examination of law reform and initiatives in selected countries and in international organizations.

Part 2 Legislating childhood - international and comparative perspectives: sexuality and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and British legislation on child abuse and sexuality; Russian children - the obscenity of political fantasy.

Part 3 Abusing childhood - critical dimensions and practical consequences: punishing children and pleasuring adults - one, both or neither?; Lolita at the interface of obscenity - children and the right to free expression; childhood sexual abuse as a predictor of substance use and HIV/AIDS risk; behaviour among women at admission to prison.